Device for fastening a pacifier to the clothing of a child

ABSTRACT

A device for the fastening of a pacifier to the clothing of a child with
         a flexible band,   means for fastening on a pacifier on one end of the band and   a clip for fastening to the clothing of a child on the other end of the band, which has a disk-like carrier with two arms on one side, each of which has a claw on the end, which are pivotable through actuation of at least one spring-elastic arm from a together position into an apart position and return to the together position when the arms are released.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for the fastening of a pacifier on theclothing of a child.

Pacifiers serve to satisfy infants' and small children's need to suckleand to thereby calm them. Pacifiers mainly consist of a mouthpiece,which is usually made of latex or silicone, and a shield, which preventsthe mouthpiece from being swallowed. It is important to keep themouthpiece clean. If the pacifier is first used after a cleaning, thisis unproblematic. If the pacifier falls on the ground, it can get dirtyand cannot be used again right away if suitable cleaning options are notavailable. When the child loses the pacifier at night, it often cannotfind it in the waking period, resulting in sleep being disrupted for asustained period.

Devices are already known for the fastening of a pacifier on theclothing of a child, which prevent a pacifier from falling out of thechild's mouth onto the floor and making it easier for the child to finda lost pacifier at night. Such a device is known from U.S. Pat. No.4,999,157 and comprises a plastic band, which is fastened on a retainingring of a pacifier via a loop on one end and is connected with a clipfor fastening on the child's clothing via another loop on the other end.The clip is made of a single piece of plastic. It has two arms, whichare connected with each other on one end, wherein a strap with aperforation protrudes from the connection area, through which anotherloop is fed. The arms overlap each other and have two claws on the otherend, which rest against each other under pretensioning. For this, thearms of the clip are forced over each other after production and areheld in overlapping arrangement by a retaining rod connected with anarm.

The known device has the disadvantage that the establishment of theconnection with the pacifier is laborious. However, the pacifier must beregularly separated from the device for fastening on the child'sclothing for cleaning purposes. In addition, the known device cannot befastened on a pacifier with a stud.

It is also disadvantageous that the clip can easily detach from thechild's clothing, since the two open-lying arms just need to be pressedtogether slightly. The clip is also unsuitable for fastening on a hembecause the arms are aligned diagonal to the clamping surfaces of thetwo jaws so that the clip with the deploying arms would be locatedperpendicular on the clothing. As a result, a perpendicularly protrudingfold on which the clip is fastened such that the deploying arms rest onthe outside of the clothing is introduced for the fastening of the clipin the clothing. Fastening on a small fold is also not secure so thatthe clip can easily come loose.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,298 B1 describes a combination of a clip with acover for a pacifier and a band. The cover has a hollow space for asuction body of the pacifier. The band is fastened on a claw of theclip. The fastening and the releasing of the clip on the child'sclothing is hindered by the expansive cover. Moreover, the band can getbetween the claws during fastening and the unwanted removal of the clipfrom the clothing can be facilitated.

JP 2005000313 A describes a pacifier with emergency breathing holes.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a device forthe fastening of a pacifier on the clothing of a child, which can beeasily fastened and released.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device according to the invention for the fastening a pacifier onthe clothing of a child has

-   -   a flexible band    -   a clip on one end of the flexible band for fastening on the        clothing of a child and    -   a buckle on the other end of the flexible band, which has an        elastic fastening ring for forcing it over the stud of a        pacifier on one side and a strap on the other side, which can be        hooked in the fastening ring if it is stuck through the holding        ring of a pacifier and bent back.

The device according to the invention can be fastened in a simple mannerboth on a pacifier with a stud as well as on a pacifier with a holdingring. In the case of the first mentioned pacifier type, the fasteningring is simply forced above the stud. In the case of the secondmentioned pacifier type, the fastening ring is fed through the holdingring and bent back so that it surrounds the fastening ring in aloop-like manner. The loop is then closed by hooking the strap into thebent-back fastening ring. The strap is also preferably elastic. In bothcases, a secure connection is achieved between the band and thepacifier, which can also be easily released by an adult, in particularif the pacifier needs to be cleaned.

The band can be fastened in a different manner on the buckle, forexample through adhesion or fusion. In accordance with one embodiment,the buckle is disk-like and has two parallel slits for feeding throughthe pacifier band. One end of the pacifier can be passed through the twoslits and for example closed through knotting.

In accordance with another embodiment, the buckle iscircular-disk-shaped. In accordance with another embodiment, thefastening ring and the strap protrude outward from diametrically opposededges of the fastening buckle.

In accordance with another embodiment, the buckle, the fastening ringand the strap are designed as one piece.

In accordance with another embodiment, the buckle, the fastening ringand the loop are made of plastic or silicone.

The device according to the invention for fastening a pacifier on theclothing of a child has

-   -   a flexible band    -   means for fastening on a pacifier on one end of the band and    -   a clip for fastening on the clothing of a child on the other end        of the band, which has a disk-like carrier with two arms on one        side, each of which has a claw on the end, which are pivotable        through actuation of at least one spring-elastic arm from a        together position into an apart position and return to the        together position when the arms are released, wherein the        carrier has a slit near the edge, through which a section of the        band is fed.

In the case of the device according to the invention, the arms protrudefrom the same side of the disk-like carrier. The clip can be fastened ona hem of the clothing, wherein the carrier is aligned parallel to thetop side of the clothing near the hem. This promotes the securefastening of the clip. The arrangeability of the clip on the pacifierfavors the large design of the claws, which in turn benefits the securefastening of the clip on the clothing. Due to the fact that the carriercovers the clip, the actuation of the clip by the child is hindered.However, the adult can actuate it without problem by pushing the pointerfinger under the spring-elastic arm, placing the thumb on the carrierand squeezing the pointer finger and thumb together. If the pacifierfalls out of the mouth, the child can easily find it by feeling its wayalong

-   -   the band to the pacifier starting from the smooth surface of the        carrier easily differentiable from a pacifier.

In accordance with one embodiment, the carrier has a circular or ovalshape. In accordance with another embodiment, the carrier has at leastone emergency breathing hole in case a child swallows the clip.

The carrier has a slit near the edge for feeding through a section ofthe band. One end of the band can be inserted through the slit andclosed to a loop, for example through knotting.

In accordance with one embodiment, the arms are lamellar so that they donot exert any uncomfortable pressure on the body surface.

In accordance with another embodiment, the arms have recesses on sidesfacing each other, where the arms grip into each other. This favors aone-piece design of the clip made of plastic, which is basicallydescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,157, in the case of the lamellar designof the arms.

In accordance with another embodiment, the claws are disk-like, wherebylarge clamping surfaces for a secure fixation are favored. According toanother embodiment, the claws are provided on the facing sides withmeans for gripping on a piece of clothing for secure fastening. Thesemeans are for example protruding teeth or ribs. Protruding ribspreferably have a saw-tooth profile.

In accordance with one embodiment, the clip is produced as one piece. Inaccordance with another embodiment, it is made of plastic, for examplepolypropylene. In accordance with another embodiment, the clip isinjection-molded. The clip is preferably injection-molded such that theinsides of the claws are facing away from each other after removal fromthe injection-molding tool and are forced above each other under lateralevasive movements of the arms so that they rest against each other intheir initial position with the insides under elastic pretensioning. Inthis respect, production mainly corresponds with production of theone-piece clip according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,157. In its preferredembodiment, the arms are heated in boiling water before they are forcedabove each other mechanically so that no stress whitening occurs whenthe arms are forced over each other.

In accordance with another embodiment, the clip is printed at least onthe side of the carrier facing away from the arms. The printing can forexample be a graphic and/or mark of the manufacturer as is usual forpacifiers.

In accordance with one embodiment, the band is made of a film or atextile material. A textile material is a flexible material made up of acomposite of fibers.

In accordance with one embodiment, the band is made of plastic or anatural material. In accordance with another embodiment, the band ismade of polyester.

The band is for example a fiber or a cord. In accordance with oneembodiment, the band is a flat material.

In accordance with one embodiment, one end of a section of the band fedthrough an opening of the clip and/or the means for fastening is sewedand/or adhered and/or fused and/or hooked and/or knotted and/or splicedand/or interlaced and/or connected with buttons with the band at adistance from the end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The device according to the invention is explained below based on thefigures, which show preferred exemplary embodiments. The figures showthe following:

FIG. 1 the device fastened on a pacifier with a holding ring in aperspective view;

FIG. 2 the device fastened on a pacifier with a stud in a perspectiveview;

FIG. 3 the clip of the device before the forcing of the arms above eachother in a side view;

FIG. 4 the clip after the arms have been forced over each other in anenlarged side view (FIG. 4 shows the claws with fewer ribs than in FIG.3);

FIG. 5 the buckle with fastening ring and strap on the end of the bandin a front view;

FIG. 6 the strap hooked into the bent-back fastening ring in aperspective view;

FIG. 7 a clip with scissor-like opening in a roughly schematic side viewin the closed state (FIG. 7.1) and in the open state (FIG. 7.2);

FIG. 8 a clip with an even opening in the closed state (FIG. 8.1) and inthe open state (FIG. 8.2);

FIG. 9 arms of a clip with a small number of ribs on the claws in a sideview;

FIG. 10 arms of a clip with a large number of ribs on the claws, theheight of which decreases with increasing distance from the free end ofthe claws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there aredescribed in detail herein a specific preferred embodiment of theinvention. This description is an exemplification of the principles ofthe invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theparticular embodiment illustrated.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device has a flexible band 1. The band 1is for example a textile made of plastic fibers.

A clip 2 is fastened on one end of the band 1. Means for fastening 3 ona pacifier 4 with retaining ring 5 (FIG. 1) or respectively pacifier 6with stud 7 (FIG. 2) are fastened on the other end of the band 1. Thepacifiers 4, 6 each have a shield 8, from the concave inside of whichprotrudes a mouthpiece 9.

According to FIG. 3, the clip 2 has a disk-like carrier 10 withemergency breathing holes 11. Lamellar arms 12, 13 protrude from oneside of the disk-like carrier 10. The arm 12 is bent slightly outward.The arms 12, 13 are slightly tilted in the same direction at an acuteangle to the disk-like carrier 10 and have claws 14, 15 on the ends. Theclaws 14, 15 are bent with respect to the arms 12, 13 such that they arealigned approximately parallel to the carrier 10 in the case offorced-over arms 12, 13 (see FIG. 4). The claws 14, 15 have on theinsides, which are facing each other in the case of arms 12, 13 forcedabove each other, each several, parallel, serrated ribs 16, 17. The arms12, 13 have recesses 19, 20 on the sides. The arm 13 has a rib 13.1 onthe inside, which prevents the penetration and clamping of a fingerbetween arm 13 and carrier 10.

The carrier 10 has an oval shape and has in the edge area, where theoval has a small radius, a slit 18, through which one end of the band 1can be fed (FIGS. 1 and 2).

The clip 2 is produced as one piece through injection molding frompolypropylene. After removal from the injection-molding tool, the clipis heated in boiling water and the arms 12, 13 are forced over eachother so that the recesses 19, engage with each other. The claws 14, 15then rest against each other under pretension with their ribbed insides.

One end of the band 1 is inserted through the slit 18 and the insertedend is sewn and/or adhered and/or fused with the band 1.

The means for the fastening 3 on the pacifier have acircular-disk-shaped fastening buckle 21 in accordance with FIG. 5,which has two parallel slits 22, 23 for inserting one end of the band 1.A fastening ring 24 and a strap 25 protrude outward from opposite edgesof the fastening buckle 21. These means for the fastening 3 on apacifier are made as one piece from plastic or silicone, for examplethrough injection-molding.

These means for fastening 3 on a pacifier are connected with an end ofthe band 1 fed through the slit in a loop-like manner and sewn and/oradhered and/or fused with the band 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

According to FIGS. 1 and 6, the means for the fastening 3 with apacifier 4 can be connected with a holding ring 5 in that the fasteningring 24 is inserted through the holding ring 5 and bent back and thestrap 25 is then hooked in.

According to FIG. 2, the means for the fastening 3 with a pacifier 6 areconnected with a stud 7, in that the fastening ring 24 is forced overthe stud 7.

The connection between the device and the pacifier 4, 6 can be easilyseparated from each other in the opposite direction.

Furthermore, the device can be securely fastened on a hem throughclamping of clip 2.

According to FIG. 7, a clip 2.1 on a carrier 10.1 has arms 12.1, 13.1,which are arranged parallel to each other with their claws 14.1, 15.1 inthe closed state (FIG. 7.1) and open up like scissors with their claws14.1, 15.1 in the open state (FIG. 7.2).

According to FIG. 8, a clip 2.2 on a carrier 10.2 has arms 12.2, 13.2,which are arranged at an acute angle with respect to each other withtheir claws 14.2, 15.2 in the closed state (FIG. 8.1) and are almostparallel to each other with their claws 14.2, 15.2 in the open state(FIG. 8.2).

According to FIG. 9, a clip 2.3 has arms 12.3, 13.3, wherein the arm12.3 on the claw 14.3 is only provided with one rib 16.3 and the arm13.3 on its claw 15.3 is provided with two ribs 17.3. The rib 16.3engages in the closed state of the clip 2.3 between the ribs 17.3.

According to FIG. 10, a clip 2.4 has arms 12.4, 13.4. The claw 14.4 ofthe arm 12.4 is provided with several parallel ribs 16.4, the height ofwhich decreases away from the free end of the arm 12.4. The arm 13.4 isprovided on the claw 14.4 with several parallel ribs 17.4, the height ofwhich also decreases away from the free end of the arm 13.4.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternateembodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognizeother equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein whichequivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto

1. A device for the fastening of a pacifier on the clothing of a childwith a flexible band (1), a clip (2) on one end of the flexible band (1)for fastening on the clothing of a child and a buckle (21) on the otherend of the flexible band (1), which has an elastic fastening ring (24)for forcing it over the stud (7) of a pacifier (6) on one side and astrap (25) on the other side, which can be hooked in the fastening ring(24) if it is fed through the holding ring (5) of a pacifier (4) andbent back.
 2. The device according to claim 1, in which the buckle (21)is disk-like and has two parallel slits (22, 23) for feeding through theband (1).
 3. The device according to claim 1, in which the buckle (21)is circular-disk-shaped, oval or polygonal.
 4. The device according toclaim 1, in which the fastening ring (24) and the strap (25) protrudeoutward from diametrically opposed edges of the buckle (21).
 5. Thedevice according to claim 1 in which the buckle (21), the fastening ring(24) and the strap (25) are designed as one piece.
 6. The deviceaccording to claim 1, in which the buckle (21), the fastening ring (24)and the strap (25) are made of plastic or silicone.
 7. A device for thefastening of a pacifier on a child's clothing, in particular accordingto claim 1, with a flexible band (1), means for the fastening (3) on apacifier on one end of the band (1) and a clip (2) for fastening on theclothing of a child on the other end of the band (1), which has adisk-like carrier (10) with two arms (12, 13) on one side, each of whichhas a claw (14, 15) on the end, which are pivotable through actuation ofat least one spring-elastic arm (13) from a together position into anapart position and return to the together position when the arm (13) isreleased, wherein the carrier (10) has a slit (18) near the edge,through which a section of the band (1) is fed.
 8. The device accordingto claim 7, in which the carrier (10) has a circular or oval shape. 9.The device according to claim 7, in which the carrier (10) has at leastone emergency breathing hole (11).
 10. The device according to claim 7,in which the arms (12, 13) are mainly lamellar.
 11. The device accordingto claim 7, in which the arms (12, 13) have recesses (19, 20) on facingsides, where the arms (12, 13) engage with each other.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 7, in which the claws (14, 15) are disk-like.
 13. Thedevice according to claim 7, in which the claws (14, 15) on the facingsides have means for gripping (16, 17) on a piece of clothing.
 14. Thedevice according to claim 7, in which the clip (2) is made of singlepiece of plastic and in which the clip (2) is injection-molded such thatthe insides of the claws (14, 15) are facing away from each other andare then forced over each other under lateral evasive movements of thearms (12, 13) so that they rest against each other in their initialposition under elastic pretensioning.
 15. The device according to claim7, in which the clip (2) is printed at least on the side of the carrier(10) facing away from the arms (12, 13).